Oxidation of Aromatic Aldehydes Using OxoneRajani Gandhari, Padma P. Maddukuri, and Thottumkara K. VinodDescribes an eco-friendly procedure for the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids in water or a water-ethanol mixture using Oxone as the oxidant. The use of eco-friendly solvents, a non-toxic reagent, and the elimination of extraction solvents in the procedure demonstrate important green chemistry themes to students.Gandhari, Rajani; Maddukuri, Padma P.; Vinod, Thottumkara K. J. Chem. Educ.2007, 84, 852.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills: The "Sabotaged" Synthesis of Methyl p-BromobenzoateEric J. Mahan and Mary Alice NadingBefore beginning an experiment, students are told that someone might have sabotaged their experiment to produce other-than-expected results. The objective is to perform the experiment, determine if any sabotage has occurred, and, if so, identify the changes that were made to the reagents as well as the person responsible.Mahan, Eric J.; Nading, Mary Alice. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 1652.

Ozonolysis Problems That Promote Student ReasoningRay A. Gross Jr.The structural features inherent in acyclic monoterpenes that follow the isoprene rule often lead to unique sets of ozonolysis products from which their structures, excluding stereochemistry, can be determined from molecular formulas only. This article shows how students may elucidate the structures of these compounds by analysis of the oxidative and reductive workup products.Gross, Ray A., Jr. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 604.

Aldehydes / Ketones |

Alkenes |

Alkynes |

Carboxylic Acids |

Oxidation / Reduction |

Student-Centered Learning

The Conversion of Carboxylic Acids to Ketones: A Repeated DiscoveryJohn W. Nicholson and Alan WilsonThis article describes the history of the reaction converting carboxylic acids to ketones. The reaction has been rediscovered several times, yet has actually been known for centuries. Nicholson, John W.; Wilson, Alan. J. Chem. Educ.2004, 81, 1362.

Synthesis |

Carboxylic Acids |

Aldehydes / Ketones

Organic Functional Group Playing Card DeckMichael J. WelshOrganic functional group playing card deck used for review of the name and structure of organic functional groups that can be used to play any game that a normal deck of cards is used for.Welsh, Michael J. J. Chem. Educ.2003, 80, 426.

An Organoleptic Laboratory ExperimentJohn M. RisleyCompounds in ten different classes of organic molecules that are used in the fragrance and food industry are provided to students. Students whiff the vapors of each compound and describe the organoleptic properties using a set of terms utilized in the fragrance and food industry. A set of questions guides students to an understanding of the relationship between structure of molecules and smell.Risley, John M. J. Chem. Educ.1996, 73, 1181.

The decarboxylation of organic acidMarch, JerrySimple aliphatic acids (except for acetic) do not give good yields of the corresponding alkanes through decarboxylation, although many organic chemistry textbooks cite this as a general method for the preparation of alkanes.March, Jerry J. Chem. Educ.1963, 40, 212.